Keep track of your appointments and other important dates with the 2019 IAM Calendar featuring winners of the IAM photo contest. Go through 2019 with us as we showcase the exquisite photography of our members.

The Machinists Union family lost a longtime member and Safety and Health Department Assistant Director Steve Fowee who passed away last week at the age of 64.

“Brother Fowee has influenced many of us during his 30 years in the IAM,” said IAM International President Bob Martinez. “His knowledge, experience and expertise was impressive to anyone who had the opportunity to meet him. He will be greatly missed by all of his IAM family.”

Fowee joined IAM CREST in 2008 as a Project Coordinator and Instructor. He served for 10 years as the IAM Liaison assigned to the ICWUC Center for Worker Health and Safety Education in Cincinnati, OH.

Fowee has been a member of the Machinists Union since 1988. He has served in many different capacities within IAM District 34 and IAM Local 162. Fowee worked as a journeymen industrial electrician.

The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus is a workhorse in the air. It’s a refueler and an advanced communications hub with the ability to carry both passengers and cargo. The aircraft can accurately detect, avoid or defeat threats to our National Security. And it’s a Union aircraft, assembled by IAM Members in Everett, WA using parts fabricated by Machinist Members in the Pacific Northwest. This new tanker program will be making its debut in the IAM’s Southern Territory next month and the Machinists could not be more proud to be part of this journey.

IAM Workers at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, KS and Altus AFB in Oklahoma, who will play host to this new aircraft, are gathered this week for negotiations with FlightSafety Services Corporation (FSSC), the company that will oversee the program. The goal is to draw up a first contract that will protect the highly-skilled workers who will ultimately make the KC-46 a legend in the sky.

From training pilots to simulator technicians, load technicians, material handlers and air refueling and boom operators, the dedication and skill of the IAM will be found in every aspect of this aircraft.

“We have a unique opportunity in the Southern Territory as the KC-46 program is just getting off the ground at two of our locations. The Members of IAM District 171 in Oklahoma and District 70 in Kansas are able to negotiate together, providing our members with a strong contract that not only takes care of them but also provides a solid foundation for future Machinists who will join this tanker program,” said IAM’s Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Together, we can show the company that we are unified in making sure that not only is this program a success but that our members are recognized and compensated for the decades of experience they bring to the table.”

“We are setting the bar, not just for IAM Members, but for all the talented men and women in this industry who will work tirelessly to guarantee that every aspect of the KC-46 will safely and effectively protect our Brothers and Sisters in the U.S. Military,” said Aerospace General Vice President Mark A. Blondin. “As this program grows, so too will the Machinists’ role in making sure this program is the gold standard for pilot training and maintaining refueling aircraft. The accomplishments of the U.S. Military in the air can’t be achieved without the hard-working IAM members on the ground.”

Negotiations between IAM and FSSC are scheduled to be on-going until January 2019. Wages, Seniority and Health and Welfare, of course, topping the priority list for the members in this group. But it’s the pride and patriotism of our Brothers and Sisters who will work on the KC-46 that is taking center stage.

“It’s rare to see such dedicated employees like the ones in this group. They truly take this work to heart and their resolve not to make any mistakes is second to none. As they have told me, their main job is to take care of those who have chosen to protect this country by being part of the U.S. Military,” said Business Representative of District 70 Tyson Kelly.

The same sentiment resonates with the IAM Brothers and Sisters at Altus.

“To them, this job comes with a huge responsibility to make sure our country has what it needs to protect our citizens,” said President and Directing Business Representative of District Lodge 171 Rick Boardman “We at the IAM owe it to these working-class heroes to bring them the best, damn contract we can. And that’s exactly what we plan to do.”

When your doorbell rings this year be prepared, and have plenty of union-made candy available on Halloween. The AFL-CIO has made it easy for you to support good union jobs that pay well and respect the rights of working people.

Click herefor a list of all-time favorites made by your union brothers and sisters.

Make sure you get enough, because you’ll want to treat yourself to some too.

With a united front and a firm resolve at the bargaining table, Machinists Union members at Local Lodge 933 have ratified a new agreement with Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ.

“The members really came together and rallied around their Bargaining Committee,” said Western Territory Grand Lodge Representative Steve Nickel. “With a loud and unified voice, they sent a clear message to the company that they would settle for nothing less than a fair agreement.”

The new five-year agreement comes with $11,000 in lump sum bonuses and over 15 percent in wage increases throughout the life of the contract.

“This agreement is a testament to the solidarity of everyone involved at Local Lodge 933,” said Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen. “Working families in Tucson and the surrounding areas will be feeling the positive impacts of this contract for years to come.”

“I am very proud of our membership at Raytheon for standing strong for the contract they deserve,” said International President Bob Martinez. “These highly-skilled men and women are an example to all working people of what can be accomplished when we are united.”

“These negotiations were about addressing our members’ needs, healthcare costs, wages and job security,” said Local Lodge 933 Directing Business Representative Louie Martinez. “With the hard work from the committee, GLR Steve Nickel, Aerospace Coordinator Tony Blevins and the International, we were able to accomplish what the members asked for, a fair and equitable contract.”

Limits to health care increases on deductibles and out of pocket maximums.

Improved protections of the members’ work.

Improved overtime distribution language.

Increased flexibility for paid time off.

Aerospace Coordinator Tony Blevins also weighed in, “This is the direct result of working together for the betterment our members, their families and our communities’ lives,” said Aerospace Coordinator Tony Blevins. “Local 933 DBR Louie Martinez and GLR Nickel led this great negotiating team as a team. I could not have been prouder to have worked with such great IAM members who all had a common goal, nothing less than a fair agreement.”

Local Lodge 933 represents over 1300 workers at Raytheon Missile Systems and is Southern Arizona’s largest private employer.

The IAM Midwest Territory’s 2018 “Rides for Guides” Classic Auto Show brought an impressive lineup of wheels and engines – over a hundred cars, to be exact – to IAM District 837 in Hazelwood, MO, raising over $8.5k for Guide Dogs of America.

The IAM Midwest Territory’s 2018 Spirit of Midwest “Rides for Guides” Classic Auto Show raised over $8.5k to benefit Guide Dogs of America.

Guide Dogs of America provides guide dogs free of charge to blind and visually-impaired men and women across the U.S. and Canada.

The event, held at IAM District 837 in Hazelwood, MO this year, drew over a hundred participants.

Guests to the 2018 Spirit of Midwest “Rides for Guides” Classic Auto Show were greeted by GDA Director Russ Gittlen and guide dog, Stetson, a spirited 2-year-old just weeks from meeting his new visually-impaired recipient.

“What a fantastic event this year,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Philip J. Gruber. “The passion exhibited by all those involved, year after year, goes further than our love of cars. It’s about giving the gift of sight to someone who can’t see. Our donation of $8.5k will go a long way towards helping Guide Dogs of America achieve that cause.

“Thank you to all the participants for your continued support of the ‘Rides for Guides’ Car Show. And thank you to all the Midwest Territory Districts, Locals, businesses and sponsors who helped make this event another success.”

The annual Classic Car Show brought an impressive lineup of wheels and engines. The 17 classes included stock cars from as far back as the 1950s, trucks, muscle cars, corvettes and street rods. Trophies were given to the top three cars in each class, Best of Show and People’s Choice. Click here for a complete list of winners and photos from the car show.

For more information on these and other IAM Midwest Territory events to benefit Guide Dogs of America, visit the Spirit of the Midwest website at www.SpiritoftheMidwest.org.

Preparations continue to bargain a second contract for District 751 members at Cadence Giddens in Everett, WA.

In October, Union Stewards and shop floor negotiating committee members Gary Naple, Steven Burch and John Combs joined Business Rep Greg Campos and Chief of Staff Richard Jackson in the Negotiation Preparation class at the IAM’s training facility in Maryland. The intensive week-long program covers all phases of contract negotiations, including surveying members to understand their priorities, formulating those priorities into contract proposals, collective bargaining tactics and scrutinizing the employer’s strength and weaknesses. The class also covers communications, strategic planning, legal issues and several other areas.

The training culminates in a mock negotiation using real issues the committee will bring to the table, with instructors playing the part of hard-nosed company negotiators. The bargaining simulation is designed to give the committee a realistic taste of the often-intense atmosphere at the bargaining table.

“The classes we attended were a true eye-opener to the preparation and skill it takes to have a successful contract negotiation,” said Burch.

“I had a great experience at the W3 center,” said Naple. “The training is intense and demanding, but the take away makes it all worth it. The preparation simulations we ran will provide us with an insight of our negotiations in the near future.”

During the week, the group developed a second, more in-depth prioritizing survey that was distributed at a membership meeting on October 25. The group also drafted a Negotiation Survival Handbook to help members better understand the negotiation process and their role.

The key to successful negotiations is ensuring members are engaged and involved and sending a daily message of unity in support of our union negotiators.

Get ready to set sail to a destination of your choice. Guide Dogs of America will be raffling a Princess Cruises premium vacation package valued at $3,000 USD* Raffle tickets will be sold in person at all GDA sponsored Vegas events. The raffle winner will be subject to IRS rules. Please check with your tax advisor.

The weekend’s activities will culminate on Saturday the 17th with the 38th annual William W. Winpisinger Charity Banque at the Paris Hotel. The winning raffle ticket will be pulled at the end of the evening’s events.

Princess Cruises is the destination leader sailing more than 150 itineraries visiting over 360 ports of call around the world. The package includes expert guidance from your own Princess Cruises Vacation Planner to make your vacation dreams, to the destination of your choice, come true.

We would like to say a special thank you to Princess Cruises for generously making this raffle possible through a donation.

Dress in “cruise casual” because the evening will be a “bone voyage” party. This is another great opportunity to support the Machinists Union’s No. 1 charity and have a have a chance to sail into the sunset.

We will be honoring this year’s Gift of Sight recipients IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, GDA Graduate Teresa Blevins with IAM Aerospace Coordinator Tony Blevins, and National Group Protection, Inc.

IAM International President Bob Martinez has announced the retirement of IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Philip J. Gruber, effective December 31, 2018.

“Our great union will forever be grateful for the contributions of Phil Gruber,” said IAM International President Bob Martinez. “For more than four-and-a-half decades, Brother Gruber has served our membership with dignity, passion and skill. From the strike line to the negotiating table and everywhere in between, Phil has been the leader our union needs in the toughest of times. He is a true friend and I wish him and his family all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

Gruber has been a member of the IAM since his initiation into Local Lodge 688 in October 1972. He became a Journeyman Tool & Die Maker in the spring of 1976. Gruber served Local 688 as Steward, Chief Steward, Treasurer and President.

Gruber joined the staff of IAM District 9 in St. Louis as a Business Representative in 1987. In 1996, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Directing Business Representative, and subsequently became the Directing Business Representative on January 1, 2003.

On January 1, 2004, Gruber was appointed Administrative Assistant to IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President James E. Brown, and succeeded Brown as the General Vice President of the IAM Midwest Territory on July 1, 2006.

“After more than 12 years as General Vice President and 46 years of service to this great union, I am announcing my retirement as General Vice President to the IAM Midwest Territory,” said Gruber. “I’ve had the distinct honor and pleasure of serving some of the greatest members in the labor movement. For that, I say thank you. It has truly been an honor serving as your leader.”

“To the Midwest Territory staff, thank you for your talents, your dedication to the membership, and for all the great memories. You have been my second family. You have supported me in my career and in my personal life. There hasn’t been a day in 46 years that I didn’t want to come to work, because I love my job and I have enjoyed working with each of you. What a blessing to be able to say that.”

“And to my fellow past and present members of the IAM Executive Council, it’s been the greatest of honors to serve alongside a group of individuals so diverse, yet so razor-focused on the same mission and vision – and that’s serving the members of the IAM. Thank you.”

Gruber will be succeeded by current IAM Midwest Territory Chief of Staff Steve Galloway as General Vice President, effective January 1, 2019, says IP Martinez.

“Brother Galloway will serve our union admirably as a General Vice President, just as he has in a number of roles for the past three decades,” said Martinez. “Myself and the entire Executive Council are excited to work with Steve and continue putting the ‘fight’ back into our union.”

Galloway began his membership in IAM Local Lodge 459, District 77 in 1987 as a brewer working at the Stroh Brewery Company in St. Paul, MN. During his 11 years of employment at Stroh’s, Galloway served as Union Steward, Bargaining Committeeperson, and as Bargaining Committee Chairperson. He also served as an Executive Board Member of IAM Local Lodge 459, and as District 77 President.

In 1998, Galloway was elected District 77 Business Representative. In 2007, he was elected to serve as District 77 Directing Business Representative.

Galloway also served the membership of District 77 as Chairman of the Machinists, Tool and Die Apprenticeship Committee, Trustee on the St. Paul Auto Dealers Trust Fund, Chairman of the District 77 Health and Welfare Trust Fund, Organizing Director, and as Vice President of the Minnesota State Council of Machinists.

Galloway was appointed to the IAM Midwest Territory Staff as a Special Representative on June 1, 2008. He became a Grand Lodge Representative for the IAM Midwest Territory in December 2009 and was appointed Chief of Staff to General Vice President Philip J. Gruber in December 2016.